Process of making strip shingles



Oct. 2, 1934. J. A. TOPPING PROCESS OF MAKING STRIP SHINGLES Filed Feb. 1, 1933 INVENTOR f0///v A. TOPP/NG BY 1% ATTOR Y5 Patented ct. 2, 1934 PATENT OFFICE Asphalt Process Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 1,

'JClaims.

The invention relates particularly to a process of making strip shingles in which a band or strip of roofing material is fed continuously between cutting devices which make successive cuts transversely of said hand.

More particularly the invention relates to processes of cutting strip shingles of the type'in whicha series of slots are cut lengthwise of the band of roofing material to form spaced shingle tabs, and a series of cuts are made. transverse to the band of material to give shape to the projecting end portions of the tabs.

One object of the invention is to provide a continuous process of making strip shingles by which a series of strip shingles are made by making a series of cuts across a band of roofing material and in which, in one cutting operation, the forward edge of one shingle and the rear edge of an adjacent shingle and the shingle tabs on the forward portion of one shingle are formed.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in a process involving the novel and improved features hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims, the advantages of which will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The invention willbe clearly understood from the accompanying drawing illustrating certain steps in the process and different forms of strip shingles made by said process, and from the following detailed description of the process and of the strip shingles made by the same.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a view in vertical section illustrating the manner in which strip shingles of the general type shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are made by cuts taken transversely of a strip of roofing material, the apparatus for feeding the strip of material and for making the transverse cuts across the same being shown diagrammatically in this Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating the opera= tion shown in Fig. l with certain parts of the apparatus removed;

Pg. 3 is a plan view illustrating one form of strip shingle made in accordance with the present process; and

1933, Serial No. 654,600

a plurality of shingle tabs indicated at 2, sepa= rated by tapered slots indicated at 4, half-slots 6 being formed at the ends of the shingles.

Considering the strip shingle as a whole, the forward edge of the same has a wavelike formation, as clearly shown in the drawing. The rear edge of each shingle also has 'a corresponding wavelike formation, the rear edge being substantially parallel with the forward edge of the shingle. It will also be noted that with this relation of the two edges of the shingle, the projections on the forward edge are opposite indentations on the rear edge, and-the indentations on the forward edge are opposite projections on the rear edge. Thus the rear edge of the shingle is made very similar in formation to the forward edge of the shingle.

In the use of the shingles, the shingle tabs constitute the portion of the shingle which ordinarily is exposed to the weather. The wave edge given to the forward edge of the shingle gives the shingle V a highly ornamental and attractive appearance and also has other advantages without in any way detracting from the utility of the shingle. The remainder of the shingle comprises a continuous body portion 8 between the tabs and the rear edge thereof which is to be covered by the succeeding layers of similar shingles. For the first course laid upon the lower edge of a roof, the shingles may be reversed, placing the rear edge of each shingle in this course in the lower position with the tabs 2 extending upwardly from the body 8. The shingles of the next course are laid in the usual positions with the body 8 uppermost and the tabs 2 extending downwardly from said body.

Fig. 4' shows another form of strip shingle similar to that shown in Fig. 3, but differing from the construction of Fig. 3 in certain details. Thus it will-be seen that the forward portions of each tab at the sides thereof are convexly curved and that curves are formed in the wave line along the outer margin of each tab at the apexes of the angles in this line.

Fig. 5 shows another form of shingle similar to those shown in Figs. 3 and i but differing from the constructions shown in both said figures in the features hereinafter described. The construction shown in Fig. 5 differs from that shown in Fig. 3 in that where, in the construction shown in Fig. 3, there are projections upon the lower and upper margins of the shingle, there are similar shaped recesses in the construction shown in Fig. 5, and where, in the coction shown in Fig. 3, there are recesses upon the lower and up-= per margins of the shingle, there are projections in the construction shown in Fig. 5.

In addition to the constructions shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, other shingle forms similar to these may be made by the present process.

In the manufacture of strip shingles of the type shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, in accordance with the present process, a band or strip 10 of roofing material having the same width as the width-of each of the shingles to be made is employed. This roofing material may consist of any of the usual sheet materials from which composition shingles are made. Such shingles are usually made of a felt fabric treated with waterproofing substances such as asphaltum and preferably covered at least on one side with a flaky or granular vitreous or other mineral material such as slate. This band is moved continuously past suitable cutting devices which act to make the required transverse and longitudinal cuts in the band to form the shingles in succession. The band is passed between co-operating continuously rotating feeding rolls 12 and between a cutting roll 14 and a contactroll 16 which supports the band against the action of the cutting roll. The cutting roll 14 is provided with a series of knife blades indicated at 18 constructed and arranged to make waveformed cuts across the band of material. This series of knife blades is shaped to make across the band a out having substantially the form which it is desired to give to the rear edge of one shingle and the forward edge of the succeeding shingle. Extending rearwardly with relation to the direction of rotation of the roll 14 from each set of knife blades 18 are knife blades 20 for cutting the slots 4 in the band of material to form the shingle tabs. The roll 14 is provided with passages 22 extending from the knife blades 20 through which the wedge-shaped pieces removed from the material to form the slots 4. are discharged.

As shown in the drawing, the cutting roller 14 is provided with three sets of knife blades, each set comprising the knife blades 18 for making the wavelike cuts across the strip of roofing material and the kn fe blades 20 for cutting the slots in said material. The cutting roller however may be made of any suitable or convenient size and may be provided with any desired number of them sets of knife blades. The transverse cuts are made by the knife blades 18 at predetermined in tervals longitudinally of the band of material, as are also the slots made .by the knife blades 20. The respective intervals between the transverse cuts made by the blades 18 determine the length of each shingle and the respective intervals between the cuts made by the blades 20 determine the length of the body of the shingle from the inner ends of the slots to the rear edge.

Each set of knife blades cuts the wavelike cut across the strip of roofing material and also cuts the slots 4 in said material both in one cutting operation. In the cutting operation of each set of knife blades, the rear margin of each strip shingle is formed with a wavelike edge and the forward margin of the preceding shingle is also formed with a wavelike edge interfitting with the rear edge of the preceding shingle, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. Thus the forward and rear margins of each shingle are cut on parallel lines, the projections on the forward margin of each shingle being opposite recesses on the rear margin thereof, and the recesses on the forward margin of each shingle being opposite projections on the rear margin thereof.

,only in said adjacent shingle strip a cutout be- It will be noted that in the cutting operation of each set of knife blades, a complete strip shingle is cut from the band of roofing material. The forward and rear margins of each strip shingle are similar in formation so that the shingles may be reversed in applying the lowermost course of the same to a roof. The knife blades 20 which operate adjacent the margins of the band of roofing material are arranged to cut pieces from said band to form what may be conveniently termed half slots. Thus when the shingles are placed end to end in abutting relation, slots will be formed between adjacent shingles having substantially the shape and size of the slots 4 in the body of each shingle.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show three different forms of strip shingles which may be conveniently made in accordance with the present process. It is to be understood however that the invention is not limited in its application to the making of these particular forms of shingles but that it may be applied with advantage in making strip shingles of other forms.

Having explained the nature and object of the invention, and having specifically described one way in which the invention may be applied, what is claimed is:

l. The process of making shingle units which comprises continuously moving a sheet of fabric in the plane of the sheet, uninterruptedly eifecting, at intervals in the direction of motion of the continuously moving sheet, a continuous cut extending across the sheet transversely of the motion of the sheet in such a way as to produce in the one uninterrupted cut recesses and projections on the forward margin of one unit in the sheet and complementary projections and recesses on the rear margin of an adjacent unit in the sheet, and as a part of said uninterrupted continuous cut forming cutouts in the forward margin only of said first unit, said transverse out being made with its general extent substantially at right angles to the direction of motion of the sheet and so that each unit is formed with the recesses and projections upon its forward margin respectively complementary to the projections and recesses upon the rear margin of the unit.

2. The process of making strip shingles havi tabs separated by cutouts in the portion thereof to be exposed which comprises continuously moving a sheet of roofing material in the plane of the sheet, making at intervals in the direction of the motion of the sheet and uninterruptedly at each interval cuts across said sheet of roofing material transversely to its direction of motion, said cuts being spaced apart distances determining the dimension of the strip transversely of the longitudinal edge thereof to be exposed, each of said cuts being continuous across said sheet and completely forming the longitudinal edge to be overlapped of'one shingle strip and severing said strip from the sheet and simultaneously forming the longitudinal butt edges of all the tabs upon the portion to be exposed of a shingle strip adjaeent in the sheet, and, as a part of said uninterrupted out, also forming in said portion to be exposed of said adjacent shingle strip a slotextending longitudinally of the sheet to provide tween the tabs thereof, the portion of the sheet which is to be removed to form said slot being completely severed from the sheet in said uninterrupted continuous cut, said transverse cuts being of such outline and being so formed in the sheet as to produce upon each shingle strip tabs having the butt edges thereof of serrated outline complementary to the portion of the edge to be overlapped opposite to said tab in said strip in the direction transversely of the longitudinal edge of the strip.

3. The process of making strip shingles having tabs separated by cutouts in the portion thereof to be exposed which comprises continuously moving a sheet of roofing material in the plane of the sheet, making at intervals in the direction of the motion of the sheet and uninterruptedly at each interval cuts across said sheet of roofing material transversely to its direction of motion, said cuts being spaced apart distances determining the dimensions of the strip transversely of the longitudinal edge thereof to be exposed, each of said cuts being continuous across said sheet and completely forming the longitudinal edge to be overlapped of one shingle strip and severing said strip from the sheet and simultaneously forming the longitudinal butt edges of all the tabs upon the portion to be exposed of a shingle strip adjacent in the sheet, and, while the uninterrupted cutting of said out which severs the strip from the sheet is still proceeding, also starting in said portion to be exposed of said adjacent shingle strip and as part of said uninterrupted cut completing the cutting of a slot extending longitudinally of the sheet to provide only in said adjacent shingle strip a cutout between the tabs thereof, the portion of the sheet which is to be removed to form said slot being completely severed from the sheet in said uninterrupted continuous cut, said transverse cuts being of an outline providing on the edges of the adjacent strips severed thereby projections on one of said strips interfitting with recesses on the other strip and except for the cutouts in one of said edges forming the two edges of each completed strip in outline complementary substantially throughout the lengths of said two edges.

4. The process of making strip shingles having at least two tabs separated by a cut-out in the portion thereof to be exposed which comprises continuously moving a sheet of roofing material in the plane of the sheet against a cutting edge having a depth of cutting blade sufficient to cut through the sheet, so moving said cutting edge in a curve tangential to the motion of the sheet and at the rate of motion of the sheet as also to impart a motion to said cutting edge ina direction normal to the face of the sheet to force the cutting edge into the sheet at intervals in the direction of the motion of the sheet determining the dimension of strip transversely to the longitudinal edge thereof to be exposed and also at each interval uninterruptedly to make a continuous cut across the sheet transversely to its direction of motion completely forming the longitudinal edge to be overlapped of one strip with an outline having projections and recesses and simultaneously forming the butt edges of the tabs upon the portion to be exposed of the strip adjacent in the sheet with an outline having recesses and projections interfitting with said projections and recesses on the first strip but with said longitudinal edges on the same strip complementary substantially throughout the lengths of said edges and, as part of the uninterrupted continuous out, also forming in said portion to be exposed of said adjacent strip aslot extending in the line of the motion of the sheet to provide only in said adjacent strip the cutout between said tabs thereof, said slot being formed by causing said cutting edge to enter the face of the sheet at a point in the travel thereof ahead of that at which said cutting edge cuts through the sheet so as to hold the sheet with respect to the cutting edge upon severing a strip from the sheet by said continuous cut across the sheet.

5. The process of making strip shingles which comprises making a series of transverse wavelike cuts each made uninterruptedly and as a continuous out across a band of sheet material to form a wavelike edge on the rear marginal portion of each shingle and a wavelike edge on the forward marginal portion of an adjacent shingle interfitting with the edge of the first shingle and each completely severing a completed shingle from the sheet, and without interrupting the continuity of the cutting and as part of said continuous cut cutting a series of slots spaced across the band and each extending longitudinally of the band to form cut-outs between spaced tabs on the forward portion only of each shingle, said 100 transverse cuts being so formed across the band that except for said cut-outs between the tabs the parts of the wavelike edge upon the forward marginal portion of each shingle are complementary to the parts of the wavelike edge upon the rear marginal portion of said shingle which, respectively, are rearward of said parts on the forward margin of said shingle.

6. The process of making strip shingles which comprises making a series of transverse wavelike cuts each made uninterruptedly and as a continuous cut across a band of sheet material to form a wavelike edge on the rear marginal portion of each shingle and a wavelike edge on the forward marginal portion of an adjacent shingle interfitting with the edge of the first shingle, said cuts each completely severing a completed shingle from the sheet, said cuts forming the forward and rear edges of each shingle with the respectively forwardly and rearwardly opposite portions of the forward and rear edges of each shingle extending in substantially parallel relations, and without interrupting the continuity of the cut-ting and as part of said continuous cut cutting a series of slots spaced across the band and each extending longitudinally of the band to form cut-outs between spaced shingle tabs on the forward portion only of each shingle.

'7. The process of making strip shingles which comprises repeatedly cutting across a' continuously moving band of fabric to form uninterruptedly in each cut a series of indentations and projections on the forward edge of each strip shingle and a series of projections and indentations on the rear edge of an adjacent shingle complementary to those on the first shingle, and as part of said uninterrupted cut also cutting in the forward portion only of each shingle a series of slots each extending longitudinally of the band to form cut-outs between spaced shingle tabs, said out being so formed across the band that in each shingle except for said cut-outs the forward edge has each part thereof complementary to that part of the rear edge of said shingle which is rearward thereof.

JOHN A. TOPPING. 

